Lee Molyneux

Everton

Molyneux was born in Huyton, Merseyside, and joined the Everton academy at the age of 11. He made his debut for the reserve team at 16. He was also capped by England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels, gaining 26 caps altogether. He had a good start to the 2007–08 season, featuring on the bench in five games for Everton's first team, but suffered from a back injury which kept him out for the majority of the season. He had the option to sign a further year at Everton, but with Leighton Baines firmly established in the first team he decided to look for first-team action elsewhere.

Southampton

He signed for Southampton on a two-and-a-half-year contract on 2 January 2009. He made his "Saints" debut against Barnsley on 10 January. He was sent off for two bookings against Swansea City on 31 January, four games into his professional career. On 25 March 2010, he joined Port Vale on loan until the end of the season, having not settled in well at Southampton. However, he never made an appearance for Vale, except in the Staffordshire Senior Cup final – a tournament for the club's reserve players – and returned to the south coast in the summer.

Plymouth Argyle

In June 2010 it was announced that Southampton had agreed to end Molyneux's contract a year early, by mutual consent, with one year left on his contract. He signed a five-month contract with Plymouth Argyle on 3 August 2010, having been on trial with the club. Ironically, his first appearance for Argyle was against Southampton four days later, and he was on the winning side at St Mary's. "The whole team grafted, from the front right through to the back. It was organised," he said. "We came with a plan to keep our shape, be solid, and do the simple things right, and everything else looks after itself." On 1 January 2011, Plymouth Argyle announced his contract would not be renewed. Making a total of 12 appearances for the Devon club, he had not featured in the first team since mid-October.

Accrington Stanley

In August 2012, Molyneux returned to professional football when he joined League Two side Accrington Stanley on non-contract terms following a successful trial. He scored his first senior goal with a 20-yard free kick in the FA Cup on 1 December, in a 3–3 draw with Oxford United at the Crown Ground. He went on to score a hat-trick on 16 March, giving Stanley a 3–2 home victory over Barnet. He ended the 2012–13 campaign with nine goals in 43 games, and after being converted into a winger following the arrival of Laurence Wilson was described by The Times as being "League Two's Gareth Bale". He was named as the club's Player of the Year for 2012–13.

Crewe Alexandra

Molyneux signed with League One side Crewe Alexandra on a two-year contract in July 2013. He lost his first team place in October, and the next month he joined Keith Hill's League Two club Rochdale on loan. He made only three substitute appearance for the "Dale" during his time at Spotland. On 23 January 2014, Molyneux re-joined Accrington Stanley on an initial one-month loan. Speaking of his loan move, Molyneux stated that "It feels like coming home". On 24 February 2014, Molyneux signed a loan extension for the maximum of 93 days on an emergency-loan deal. On 8 March, he scored a first-half hat-trick in a 3–1 win over league leaders Chesterfield at the Crown Ground.

He expected to leave Crewe in summer 2014, but remained after manager Steve Davis told him he had a part to play at the club in the 2014–15 season; he began the season in the first-team but again soon fell our of favour. He returned to Accrington on loan in October 2014, saying that "It seems like I have never been away... I know there is a new manager (John Coleman) now but it just has the same feel around the place. It's so familiar and I am buzzing." His contract at Crewe was terminated by mutual consent in January 2015.

"It (Crewe) was the right move at the time but, with hindsight, it hasn’t worked out but that’s football and you learn."

Tranmere Rovers

In January 2015, Molyneux signed a contract with Micky Adams's League Two side Tranmere Rovers on a contract lasting until the end of the 2014–15 season. He played 11 games as Rovers were relegated out of the Football League.

Morecambe

In May 2015, Molyneux remained in League Two by signing a two-year contract with Morecambe following manager Jim Bentley's unsuccessful attempt to sign him four months earlier. He made 40 appearances in the 2015–16 campaign, and scored five goals in 48 matches in the 2016–17 season. Despite these statistics he was released in June 2017, after Bentley admitted he made a "difficult decision because he is a player who we all really like".

Guiseley

Molyneux signed a contract of undisclosed length with National League side Guiseley on 1 August 2017.

International career

He won 26 caps for England at youth level, including ten for the under-16 side.

Personal life

In January 2011, Molyneux was sentenced to three years imprisonment for a violent assault committed while binge drinking; he served 17 months.

Career statistics

Honours